Unitized vapor lamp



J 13, 1967 H. c. PFAFF, JR. ETAL 3,325,538

UNITIZED VAPOR LAMP Filed July 23, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS H. C. PFAFF JR.

J. KEPE CH ATTORNEY FIG. 3

June 13, 1967 H. c. PFAFF, JR, ETAL 3,325,638

UNITIZED VAPOR LAMP Filed July 23, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

INVENTORS H .c. PFAFF JR. 1

J KEPE ACH BY MORNEY June 13, 1967 H. c. PFAFF, JR, ETAL 3,325,633

UNITIZED VAPOR LAMP 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 23, 1965 INVENTORS H.C. PFAFF JR. J.

KEP NACH United States Patent 3,325,638 UNITIZED VAPOR LAlvH Henry C. Pfatf, Jr., Summit, and John Kepenach, Middlesex, N.J., assignors to Pfalf and Kendall, Newark, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed July 23, 1965, Ser. No. 474,233 2 Claims. (Cl. 24011.4)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A light source, such as a vapor lamp, and an outer envelope structure are sealed to one another and provided with a protruding end having electrical connector elements detachably coupled into a support. The support has an end telescoped over the protruding end of the integrated lamp and envelope and is held to the integrated structure by a ring clamp.

This invention relates to lighting devices, and more particularly to a unitized vapor lamp which may be manufactured as a self-contained, highly efiicient, vaporlight-emitting sealed unit, with terminals extending from one end thereof, to be readily plugged into an outlet or socket for connection to an electrical source and to be removed and replaced when required.

The invention is intended for, but not limited to, use in applications such as outdoor lighting, for ready application to and replacement on a pole, shaft or other support, in a simple and effective manner, thus simplifying service requirements and assuring continuity of lighting.

The unitized vapor lamp of this invention is sturdy and rugged, and may be relatively simply manufactured in an infinite variety of shapes, to conform to esthetic and utilitarian requirements. The structure of the device is such that it may be readily connected to and disconnected from a current source at the end of a shaft.

The drawings, illustrating procedures and devices useful in carrying out the invention, and the description below, are exemplary only of the invention, which shall be deemed to cover all other devices and procedures coming within the scope and purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters indicate like parts:

FIG. 1 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view of a unitized vapor lamp embodying the invention, taken at line 1-1 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof, taken at line 22 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof, taken at line 3-3 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal, partly fragmentary, side elevational view of another form of unitized vapor lamp embodying the invention, taken at line 44 of FIG. 6, shown secured by a clamp to a lighting fixture shaft,

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view thereof, taken at line 5-5 of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view thereof, taken at line 66 of FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a partly fragmentary elevational view of a further form of unitized lamp embodying the invention, shown before application to a lighting shaft, and

FIG. 8 is an elevational view, showing the same secured to a lighting shaft.

As shown in the drawings, wherein corresponding parts are similarly numbered (FIG. 1), the unitized vapor lamp 10 of this invention comprises an outer light- 'ice permeable shell member 11 which may be made of glass or other light permeable material, blown, molded or otherwise fabricated to define a body portion 12 of substantial cross section, formed unitarily with an open, constricted, tubular end or neck portion 13 extending therefrom (FIG. 1). A portion 14 is formed in the body member 12 of any cross sectional configuration suitable for light refractive purposes, for example, as indicated by serrations 14a in FIG. 7, or a grilled pattern may be provided for the purpose as indicated at 14 in FIGS. 1 and 3, forming the light-emitting face 15. The lightrefractor portion 14 of the lamp 10 may be formed separately and fused or otherwise secured to the remainder of the body portion, or formed unitarily therewith, as desired. A reflectorized portion 18 is formed in the body member 12 opposite the refractor portion, and a vapor light-generating unit 37, such as a vapor lamp having leads 20, 21 connected interiorly of the base or terminal portion 22, has contact terminal fingers or pins 23, 24 extending from the terminal portion 22. The reflectorized portion 18 may be a coating such as silver, reflecting paint, or a sheet of reflecting material secured to the unitized vapor lamp 10 opposite the light refractor portion 14, with the vapor light generating member 37 intermediate the same.

The light-generating unit 37 may be a so-called multivapor lamp, as illustrated and described by General Electric Co. lamp letter No. 64-23, dated Nov. 11, 1964; the construction of the parts inside the bulb 3-7 may be changed, as well as the manner of ballasting and sup porting the inner bulb 37 in which the discharge takes place. The base-adjacent end of the bulb 37 is supported from the shell member 11 as by snugly fitting and sealing it thereinto, as shown in FIG. 1. The shell member 11 is supported thereabout by snugly fitting inside support 35a, (below described) and said support clamp thereabout by tightening the clamping device 26, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. As an alternative, a mercury lamp, may be substituted.

In the manufacture of the unit, the light permeable shell member 11 may be initially formed of any desired contour; for example, as shown in FIGS. 1-3 inclusive, of generally semi-circular, longitudinal outline, and generally rectangular bottom profile.

In manufacture, the unitary terminal portion 22, with the vapor lamp light generating member 37 assembled thereon, may be inserted into a neck portion of the shell member 11 and the latter evacuated and sealed to the terminal portion 22. The lamp 10 may then be readily mounted on a support such as a vertical lighting shaft or pedestal 35, FIG. 8, or to a horizontal light shaft or support such at 35a in FIG. 1, by any suitable clamp means such as the adjustable sleeve 26 (FIG. 1). The lighting shaft 35a is provided adjacent the end thereof (FIG. 4) with a socket 28 having electric contact elements 29, 30 with which the terminal fingers 23, 24 of the lamp base are adapted to make electrical engagement on assembly of the parts as illustrated. The contact elements 29, 30 are thus connected to the wires 31, 32 of the cable 33 which may be connected to a suitable power source, with auxiliary and/or intervening auxiliary equipment such as ballasts, transformers, etc. which, if desired, may be built into the lamp body 12 and cut into leads 20, 21 (FIG. 1) connecting with the terminal fingers or pins 23, 24.

The form of invention shown in FIGS. 4-6 differs from FIG. 1 essentially in the generally ellipsoidal contour of the body portion 12a of FIG. 4 having a light refractor portion 14:: and reflectorized portion 13a opposite the same and an intermediate vapor light generating member 37 extending in generally parallel spaced relation with respect thereto. The body member 12a may likewise be of glass or other transparent or translucent material as above noted. In the form shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 the body portion 12b is generally circular and tapered downwardly with a convex top end 34 and a reflectorized portion 18b and a light refractor portion 14a; the other parts correspond to those similarly numbered in FIG. 1.

While the foregoing disclosure of exemplary embodiments is made in accordance with the patent statutes, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby, the inventive scope being defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

' 1. A lamp comprising a light giving unit enclosed with- 15 port having a socket with contact elements therein, said socket receiving the extending electrodes and said contacts engaging the extending electrodes associated with said lamp wherein the support comprises an end portion telescoped over the neck of the outer envelope, and a sleeve about the telescoped parts clamping the lamp to the support.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the light giving unit enclosed within an inner envelope is a vapor lamp.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,392,828 -1/1946 Noel 240-11.4 3,160,350 12/1964 Rex et a1. 240-93 X 

1. A LAMP COMPRISING A LIGHT GIVING UNIT ENCLOSED WITHIN AN INNER ENVELOPE AND AN OUTER ENVELOPE SURROUNDING THE INNER ENVELOPE, THE OUTER ENVELOPE BEING PROVIDED WITH A NECK WITHIN WHICH IS A TERMINAL PORTION SEALED TO THE NECK OF THE OUTER ENVELOPE, ELECTRODES EXTENDING FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE INNER ENVELOPE, THROUGH THE TERMINAL PORTION AND INTO THE OUTER ENVELOPE AND CONNECTED WITHIN THE INNER ENVELOPE TO THE LIGHT GIVING UNIT, A SUPPORT HAVING A SOCKET WITH CONTACT ELEMENTS THEREIN, SAID SOCKET RECEIVING THE EXTENDING ELETRODES AND SAID CONTACTS ENGAGING THE EXTENDING ELECTRODES ASSOCIATED WITH SAID LAMP WHEREIN THE SUPPORT COMPRISES AN END PORTION TELESCOPED OVER THE NECK OF THE OUTER ENVELOPE, AND A SLEEVE ABOUT THE TELESCOPED PARTS CLAMPING THE LAMP TO THE SUPPORT. 